During my first year of serious training I was lifting 5 days a week on a grocery budget that barely covered chicken and rice. The crockpot is what kept me fed. I’d load it before work with whatever was on sale and come home to a week of protein. I still cook this way. 1) …
Sunday is my rest day, and nothing fits a rest day better than beef braising low in the oven for 3 hours. I get it going after breakfast, take the dog for a long walk, and come back to meat that falls apart with a spoon. The cheaper, tougher cuts are made for this. That’s …
Soup night at my house is really an excuse to bake something. My kids will eat whatever’s in the pot as long as there’s something warm to dunk in it. I keep the soup lean and protein-heavy, so the bread is where I let myself have a little fun. Here’s what’s on rotation. 1) Buttermilk …
On the first cold Saturday of the fall, I put a pot on the stove before I leave for the gym. When I walk back in 2 hours later the whole house smells like dinner, and nothing beats that. Stew is also the easiest way I know to feed a family a serious amount of …
Every year, I pull carbs back for a few weeks while I lean out, and soup is what keeps me sane. A big bowl fills me up, warms me through a cold night and carries more protein than people expect. These are the ones that made the cut in my kitchen. None of them taste …
My plate after a heavy leg day is simple: a big piece of protein and a pile of potatoes. They’re one of the best carbs I know for refueling, and I’m not about to eat them plain every night. These are the sides I rotate so the steak or chicken always has something worth sitting …
Sunday afternoons, after my long lift, I roll a double batch of meatballs while the oven heats up. By Wednesday I’m always glad I did, because dinner is already half made. These are the ways I’ve been serving them lately, from saucy and classic to light enough for a summer night. Pick a sauce and …
I went through a stretch last winter where groceries were eating a bigger chunk of my budget than I wanted to admit. Beans and lentils are what got my protein back on track, and I stopped thinking of them as a side the week I made a real pot of chili with them. A can …
I buy salmon every Sunday and then spend the week trying not to cook it the same way twice. Most weeks it ends up on the grill or a sheet pan, but I’ve gotten a lot braver with bowls, pastas, and even the occasional bagel night after a late session. These are the versions that …
I eat lunch at my desk most weekdays, and for a long time that meant a sad salad that left me hungry again an hour later. What finally fixed it was going back to the soup-and-sandwich combo I grew up on, just built with more protein on purpose. Most of these hold up in a …
Hosting a holiday for 14 people taught me that the main dish is where the stress lives. I used to pick something fussy and spend the whole afternoon babysitting it instead of talking to anyone. Now I go for mains that scale up, hold their heat, and slice clean. Protein first, always. 1) Classic Roast …
Friendsgiving at my place means 10 people showing up hungry at 2pm while the turkey still has 3 hours to go. I learned fast that the appetizer table is what keeps everyone happy until dinner. So it gets real food, not a sad bowl of chips. Protein included. 1) Deviled Eggs Nothing disappears faster at …